SNAP benefits to decrease in November

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is notifying recipients of funding from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps – that they will see their benefits decrease beginning Nov. 1.

The change is because increased benefits provided to SNAP by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2009 are set to expire. Congress has not voted to extend this stimulus funding.

CHFS’ Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) administers the Kentucky food benefits program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), in every county.

DCBS Commissioner Teresa James said the temporary stimulus funding helped thousands of Kentuckians through a worthy program.

In 2009, stimulus funding boosted every participating household’s benefits by 13.6 percent – a two-person household would have received $44 more each month.

“The additional funding made a significant impact on our customers’ access to nutritious foods,” James said. “Though we are disappointed this extra funding is lapsing, we will still provide benefits to eligible customers and connect them with other community resources that can help feed their family healthful meals on a lower budget.”

The long-term change in benefits, after the stimulus funding expires, will depend on household size, income and expenses. A household of two who currently receives $367 a month will likely see a decrease in benefits by $20 a month to $347 per month.

James said customers can access their specific benefits changes and receive alerts by logging on to the state’s SNAP customer service website: https://snapfoodbenefits.chfs.ky.gov.

Customers cannot appeal the change in benefits because the decrease is a result of a change in federal law.

Some households may see a change in their SNAP benefits this October. To reflect changes in the federal cost of living adjustment, benefits may increase or even decrease slightly then.

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